Exhibitions

Exhibitions

American Icon Exhibit: How Americans Celebrate

Each year, the Sausalito Art Festival, one of the most prestigious art festivals in America, asks people throughout the world to show us their vision of America. This year, we are pleased to announce the theme of the fifth annual American Icon Art Competition is “How Americans Celebrate.”

Americans have many reasons to celebrate and we want to know what you celebrate and how you do so. Do you celebrate because of national or local holidays? Or, is it because of a cultural tradition or family occasion? Do you celebrate when your favorite team wins, or when you accomplish a personal goal? Based on your unique experiences, upbringing and beliefs, we want to see how and why you celebrate the things that are meaningful in your life.

Using photography, painting, drawing, sculpture and mixed media, we seek submissions by both professional and amateur artists that capture Americans celebrating their special events, occasions, holidays and interests. The winners of the event will win cash prizes and be exhibited at the annual Sausalito Art Festival, in front of thousands of artists and art enthusiastic from around the world.

Last year, artists from 26 states and seven countries entered the Competition. Do you have what it takes to win cash prizes and be featured at the 2016 Sausalito Art Festival? Learn More Here.

Educational Tall Ship

Just inside the Festival entrance, visitors were able to glimpse the nautical centerpiece of the festival – a work of art “in the making” – a gigantic marine “sculpture” looming large under a huge tent.

A 120-foot historic schooner, inspired by the 19th century Brigantine “Galilee”, is being constructed on the festival site and offers a rare insight into marine architecture. The first “tall ship” to be built in the Bay Area in over 100 years, the sailing vessel will be a floating classroom for children once built. In the interim, the site is an interactive visitor center, and festival attendees were able to tour the site.

Additionally, artist Roderick Smith painted a nautical mural on site and local performers sang sea shanties for festival patrons.

Once the ship is built, she will be operated by Call of the Sea, a well-known provider of experiential educational sailing programs in the Bay Area. For more information about this innovative project and special exhibit, visit educationaltallship.org.

Bay Model Exhibit

Spotlighting Top Bay Area Artists

In addition to the other Festival special exhibitions, the Army Corps of Engineers Bay Model building on the Festival grounds showcases an annual curated exhibition focusing on the best local Bay Area artists. The 2012 Festival featured stunning botanical watercolors by master students of Mary Harden.